Montclair Edges Rampo, Bernards Upends Don Bosco

View full sizeMonica HahnBernards had plenty to celebrate as they overwhelmed Don Bosco 19-8 in the first round of the NJSIAA/Bollinger state playoffs.

Chris Murphy went 3-0 on the A strip in sabre to power 13th-seeded Montclair, No. 4 in The Star-Ledger Top 10, past fourth-seeded and unranked Ramapo, 15-12, in the first round of the NJSIAA/Bollinger state boys fencing playoffs last night in Franklin Lakes.

Murphy’s three bouts, which accounted for all three of Montclair’s

victories in sabre, included a crucial comeback victory over the defending state champion Charles Copti. Lucas della-Bella and Josuae Harvery-Steriti each went 2-0 in epee before being subbed out after Montclair clinched the meet at 14-10. Montclair’s foil dominated with a 7-2 showing, including 2-1 performances by Chase Mitchell and Nathan Wright.

Third-seeded and sixth-ranked Montgomery, led by an 8-1 score sheet from its sabre line, including 3-0 nights by Cameron Sacke and Matt Sherman, downed 14th-seeded and unranked Randolph, 17-10, in Montgomery. Johan Zhang and Paul Won each finished 2-0 in foil while Mir Ali recorded a 2-0 performance for Montgomery in epee.

At the New Jersey Fencing Alliance in Maplewood, the defending state champion, No.1 Columbia, the top seed, extended its consecutive victory streak to 46 when it dominated 16th-seeded and unranked Bergen Tech, 21-6. Six Columbia sabre fencers combined to go 9-0 in the weapon, while the trio of Jared LeBron, John Kirk and Basile Antoine each turned in 2-0 score cards in foil.

Ninth-seeded Millburn, ranked No. 7, went to Basking Ridge where it was upset by the No. 8 seed, Ridge, ranked ninth,, 14-13. Millburn, led by a 3-0 showing from A strip epee fencer Ricky Eschenbach, had taken a 13-12 lead after the 25th bout, but could not hold onto the lead in the final two epee bouts of the contest.

Calvin Au and Sailesh Kadam finished 3-0, and Matt Hudson registered a 2-0 performance in foil to power the No. 10 seed and unranked Bernards to a 19-8 victory over seventh-seeded and 10th-ranked Don BoscoiPrep in Bernards. Bernards got a big boost from its epee line as well with David Howes finishing 2-1, while Chris Maples and Alec Ajnsztajn each went 2-0. Jon Marcus finished 2-1 for Bernards in sabre.